WHO AM I?

With an enormous passion for live performing, their work continues to receive awards and accolades around the world. As well as numerous televised stand up performances in Australia, the UK and Canada, in 2019 Rhys was hand-picked to open for comedy legend Conan O’Brien on his Australian tour. Later that year, Nicholson made their USA television debut as the stand up guest on CONAN (TBS). 2019 proved to be quite a big year for Rhys (which is lucky because 2020 and 2021 were a bit of a nightmare) when in November they recorded their third stand up special. This time for Netflix worldwide, making Rhys one of only three Australians with a solo show on the streaming giant and earning them a nomination for Best Stand Up Comedy Special at the AACTA Awards in 2021.  Since then Rhys has received a further two AACTA Award nominations in the 2024 Awards, Best Stand Up Comedy Special for Big Queer Comedy Concert (Amazon Prime) and Best Comedy Performer for Ru Paul's Drage Race Down Under (STAN). 

Alongside a booming stand-up career, Rhys has become a familiar face in a myriad of different international T.V. networks. In 2021 Rhys was cast as a series regular in the Netflix Sci-Fi comedy The Imperfects,  viewers may have caught them hosting on the red carpet coverage for STAN at the 2023 ARIA Awards. They also continue to participate on Drag Race Down Under (STAN) as a resident panel host where Season 4 filming has already taken place. Rhys also performed in and filmed    Network 10’s Taskmaster Australia has also announced Rhys as one of the contestants for season two premiering later in 2024.  

Not to let something like a devastating global health crisis from keeping them busy, the last few years have seen Rhys continue to rise. From co-opening Melbourne’s newest live comedy venue, Comedy Republic (Rhys cannot recommend you do that during a pandemic), to numerous acting roles and setting their talents to write a book of essays and become a published Author. Penguin Random House Australia released this very book in 2023 entitled Dish: Spiels, Scoops, Emotional Outbursts and the Occasional Recipe. Nicholson is focused on continuing to work and diversify in the comedy industry they love so much.  

Rhys raised the bar even higher in 2022 hosting Melbourne International Comedy Festival's All Stars Gala (ABCtv) & toured across Australia with brand new live stand- up show Rhys! Rhys! Rhys!. Rhys garnered multiple sold out seasons and won prestigious awards: Most Outstanding Show at Melbourne International Comedy Festival & Best of the Fest at Sydney Comedy Festival. Rhys then took the critically acclaimed show abroad where they performed at the renowned and invite only Just For Laughs Montreal, followed by Edinburgh Festival Fringe, London's Leicester Square Theatre, Soho Playhouse New York, Just For Laughs Toronto and a month long US Tour. The success of the show continued into 2023 seeing Rhys perform a nationwide encore tour of the award-winning and critically acclaimed show Rhys! Rhys! Rhys! 

In 2024, Rhys continues to take the Australian comedy festival scene by storm. Introducing their latest and greatest show Big Huge Party Congratulations!, Rhys has seen great success with a slew of sold out shows at  Melbourne International Comedy Festival along with other big box office engagements in Sydney, Perth and New Zealand, where they were awarded the Best International Show at the New Zealand International Comedy Festival 2024. The critically acclaimed and highly reviewed show is booked for another 20 performances in the UK on top of a month long run at Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

NICE THINGS PEOPLE HAVE SAID

​"This is a genuinely great stand-up comedian at work – in total command of his material and audience – and it’s awe-inspiring to watch"- ✭✭✭✭✭ - TIMEOUT 2019

​“Nicholson is an astute satirist of the world around him. Clever, a bit below-the-belt... blatantly very funny” - ✭✭✭✭✭ - SYDNEY MORNING HERALD 2018

“Razor-sharp, corrosive wit” SYDNEY MORNING HERALD 2017

“evolving into an incisive wizard of stinging wit.” SYDNEY MORNING HERALD 2016

“Nicholson is an expert in line-crossing while keeping an audience onside.”✭✭✭✭ CRIKEY

“He belongs on the stage, and isn’t afraid to show it” The Guardian (UK)

“Honest and filthy, yes. Intelligent and hilarious? Without a doubt.” ✭✭✭✭ BEAT MAG

”Hilarious…uproariously catty…sure to entertain with his sharp wit.” ✭✭✭✭ HERALD SUN

“This is brilliant, confronting, confessional comedy”  ✭✭✭✭ HERALD SUN

“His style of humour was fresh, daring and definitely killed.” ✭✭✭✭ THE AU REVIEW

“Cripplingly Funny” ✭✭✭✭ Sunday Express (UK)

“A tongue that strips flesh” ✭✭✭✭ SGFringe (UK)

LIVE SHOWS

Huge Big Party Congratulations (2024)

RHYS! RHYS! RHYS! (2022 & 2023)

Nice People, Nice Things, Nice Situations (2019)

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Seminal (2018) Won Best International New Zealand Comedy Festival

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I'm Fine (2017) Nominated Best Show New Zealand Comedy Festival

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Bona Fide (2016) Nominated Best Show Melbourne Int Comedy Festival

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Forward (2015) Nominated Best Show PCF

Eurgh (2014) Wasn't nominated for anything. In retrospect, probably not a great show. 

Dawn Of A New Error (2013) Won Best Joke SCF

Almost A Person (2012) Won Best Newcomer SCF

FILM & TV

Ru Paul's Drag Race Down Under - Stan

The Imperfects – Netflix  Rhys Nicholson 

Live At The Athenaeum – Netflix  

Why Are You Like This? – ABCTV/Netflix  

The Weekly – ABCTV  

Fisk – ABCTV  

Conan - TBS

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Live From the BBC - BBC

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GAYCRASHERS - ABCTV

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Cram - Network 10

Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala 2024 - ABCTV

Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala 2022 - ABCTV

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Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala 2019 - ABCTV

Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala 2018 - ABCTV

Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala 2017 - ABCTV

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Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala 2016 - Network 10

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JUST FOR LAUGHS STAND UP SERIES- Comedy Channel

SYDNEY COMEDY FESTIVAL CRACKER NIGHT- Comedy Channel

THE FEED - SBS

DIRTY LAUNDRY- ABCTV

COMEDY UP LATE 2014- ABCTV

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COMEDY UP LATE 2015- ABCTV

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COMEDY UP LATE 2016- ABCTV

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COMEDY UP LATE 2017- ABCTV

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THE MORNING SHOW – STYLE SQUAD- Channel 7

HOUSOS VS AUTHORITY- Feature Film

MAKING FRIENDS WITH RHYS NICHOLSON - Webseries

BALLS OF STEEL Series 1 & 2 - Comedy Channel